HARRY Hughes, who played for Barrow in the 1967 Challenge Cup final against Featherstone, has died aged 79.

A top-class centre, Hughes had the distinction of playing for all three Cumbria clubs in a career spanning more than 11 years.

A popular guy in the local rugby league scene, he had several trial games for Barrow at the start of his career, who hesitated over whether to sign him.

As a result, Hughes was snapped up by Whitehaven, where he spent five seasons before moving to arch-rivals Workington Town, then coming back to his roots and finally pulling on a Barrow jersey.

Leading the tributes was his wing partner at Wembley, Mike Murray the former Powderhall sprint champion.

Murray was saddened and shocked about the loss of a dear friend, and said: “Harry was one of the best centres I played alongside.

“We got on really well, he was a wingman's centre, a player that looked after me.

“He was an old-fashioned centre, one who would not give you the ball unless he thought it was wise to do so. He did my tackling – his words being 'I'll do your tackling, you score the tries', and he did put me over the line on many occasions

“He would not give me the ball unless there was a chance on of me scoring.

“He would always say 'Mike, stick on your wing, don't come in and try and take my opposite centre. You stick to your opposite winger.' He was a smashing fellow and I am shocked by the news.”

John Rea also played at centre for Barrow in the 1957 Challenge Cup final defeat at the hands of Leeds.

He added his tribute, and said: “Harry was a proper centre with a wonderful side-step. He was very keen and was a hard tackler.”

Mick Ducie, the former Barrow prop forward, said: “Harry was a great centre and a hard lad to play against. I played in the A-team when Harry had trials at Barrow – they missed out on him.”

Another fine half-back who missed out on playing for Barrow and moved up the coast to Whitehaven was Alf Hadley.

He recognised Hughes' skill when playing alongside him for Haven, and said: “Harry was a brilliant centre with a brilliant side-step.

“The crowd at Whitehaven loved him. He was very well liked up in the west of Cumbria.

“I don't know what Barrow were playing at, they missed out on a very good player.”

He added: “We once played a star-studded Wakefield team at Whitehaven in the second round of the Challenge Cup. There were more than 18,000, which Wakefield won.

“We had a reunion three years ago for that occasion and Harry and myself attended.

“He was also very good at football, a very nice bloke and friend. And when he moved to Workington it didn't go down well, as the rivalry between the two clubs is massive.”

Born in Barrow in 1937, Hughes played locally for Corporation Combine (now under the banner of Hindpool) before taking the professional ticket with Haven, where he broke into the first team soon after his arrival in 1958. He stayed until 1963.

He played more than 179 times for the club, scoring 57 tries and kicked four goals.

Haven were having a good spell, but financial problems arose in the early 1960s and Town swooped for his signature.

After three seasons, the travelling took its toll and he requested a move to Barrow. He came for a £2,000 fee, joining a threatening back-line of Bill Burgess, Jim Challinor and Murray. Hughes made his Barrow debut at Wigan in 1965 and his last game was at home to Bradford in 1969.

In 1967, Barrow swooped for England Rugby Union stand-off Tom Brophy and the same year they went to Wembley, where they were beaten 17-12 by Featherstone.

He went on to make 135 appearances for his hometown club, scoring 26 tries and kicking one goal before injury forced him into retirement.

However, like many ex-pros he came back into the amateur game, coaching at Roose, then the newly formed Railway Club.